Shuttle mechanism



Nov. 4, 1941.

D. c. CHURCHILL 2,261,873 SHUTTLE MECHANISM f Filed Sept. 26, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

and C. C hare/717i.

ATTORNEY.

1941- D. c. CHURCHILL ,261,873

SHUTTLE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /Zoavid C Churchill ATTORNEY.

SHUTTLE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. D d6. Churchill.

ATTORNEY.

D. c. CHURCHILL 2,261,873

Nov. 4, 1941. c, c u c 2,261,873

SHUTTLE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1941 D. c. CHURCHILL 2,261,873

SHUTTLE MECHANISM F'iled Sept. 26, 1939 5 Shets-Sheet s ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 TE'S r OFFICE 17 Claims.

My invention relates to fly shuttle mechanisms for looms.

In theme of fly "shuttle mechanisms, itis customary toalternately'propel the shuttle from one side of the loom tothe other over what is commonly called the shuttle race, and .within the shed provided by vertically displaced layers of warp as is customary inthe art.

It hasbeen found that upon increasing loom speeds in loomsiincluding the power .looms-the shuttle which'may weigh tone to threezpounds and over, requires very considerable "energy to "be exerted by the picker or shuttle :throwing mechanism in order to traversetheoshu'ttle race at'the required speeds, which'may :beas highas 88' "per second, corresponding to :a mile a minute, or-

more.

It has been found in the operation of "fast looms, includin power looms,'that the amount of energy which is dissipated at the end of each throw of the 'shuttle'when'the *s'huttle :comes to rest at the end of each flight in alternate directions, is so considerable that the *power required to operate all of the otherparts'ofa power'loom is not in excess of and often :is less than the power required to iefiect flight of the shuttle atthe required speeds. It'has 'alsozbeen found that the. loss in energy of the shuttle due to friction, air resistance, etc., during traverse from box to box is less than 10% of the .total P kinetic energy whichrresides'in the shuttle at the beginning of its fflight at ordinary power loom speeds.

This large expenditure o'f'power for efiecting the flight :ofthe shuttle which .may'be required to be thrown through the shuttle race'two hundred or more times per minute, in relatively fast looms, has inthe'past discouraged the employment of so-called hand looms where speed of weaving, inorder 'to accomplish economy in'the production of woven cloth, is desired, since the energy output of the human operator is not suflicient for the task over any considerable period of time.

It is an object of my invention therefore, to provide'for more efficient operation of fly shuttle operation .in looms. As a chief principle, involved among the many mechanical principles seemingly required to achieve this :efficiency, the'storage of the energy of the shuttle in 'steel'springs, air springs or similar means and the return of'this energy to the shuttle immediately after storage on the return flight is fundamentallypresent in the invention.

nomical and fastershuttle drive in "loom mechanisms through saving of power transmitted to-the shuttle.

Another object-of my invention 'is-to provide a means for throwing the shuttle whereby a power loom maybe speeded up beyond present practice and still keep within practical limitations of wear, noise, power loss and othcr objectionable features. I 1

Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a picker mechanism for a shuttle in which the shuttle will contact with a minimum of shock after it has traversed the shuttle race.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved fly shuttle mechanism which will minimize wear and shock on the mechanism parts.

Other objects-of the invention and the invention itself will-become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating certain embodiments of my invention and which-are described vin .the accompanying specification.

Referring to the drawings: I

Fig. 1 isa front elevational viewof a fly shuttle mechanism which is-:a first embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 2 isan-end-elevational view of the mechanismof Fig. 1; r

Fig. .3 is a .plan view .of thelshuttle receiving and discharging mechanism of thesaid embodiment vviththe shuttleand the saidmechanism in solid lines in the positions assumed when the flying shuttle flrst engages the shuttle receiving portion of the mechanism at the .point where motion of the shuttle begins .to rotate the said mechanism, and the kinetic energy of the shuttle begins to be transformed and stored as potential energy therein; in dottedlines is shown the advanced fat rest position o-fthe shuttle andparts of said mechanism;

Fig. 4 is-a plan View of a portion of the mechanismcfI-Fig. 3, wherein the parts are shown in the fully advanced at rest position of the shuttle;

:Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the plane 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. -6 'is a sectional View taken -on the plane 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a=sectionalview taken on theplane 1--1'of Fig. 3;

Fig. .8'.is asectional view taken on the plane I 8-8 ofIFig. 3;

Fig.9 is a front elevational-view;correspond- Another object'of my'inventionisa more eco- 55 e' the i 'fi i i -I anshl t l ing and energy storing mechanism which is another embodiment of my invention, in this view, certain of the parts including the shuttle, are also shown by dotted lines in the positions assumed when the shuttle at the end of its flight has been brought to rest;

Fig. is a sectional view of a portion of the said second embodiment on the line l0l0 of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line llll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken on the line l2 |2 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of a modified form of certain parts as illustrated, for in stance, at the top of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a section taken along the line [4-44 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a front elevational view generally similar to Fig. 9 showing another modification of my invention;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged plan view taken from plane Iii-l6 of Fig. 15, and

Fig. 1'7 is a detail plan view similar to Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is an elevational view of a portion of a shuttle receiving device which is another embodiment of my invention showing a portion of the shuttle projected-thereinto.

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 but showing the shuttle in its cocked position in the shuttle receiving mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the shuttle of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a rear elevational view of the picker of Figs. 18 to 20 inclusive;

Fig. 22 is a view of one embodiment of the steel picker to be used with my invention; and

Fig. 23 is a view of another embodiment of the steel picker to be used with my invention.

I have provided a picker, hereinafter termed abow-string picker, which works in tension like the string of a bow used in propelling an arrow, the bow-string being extremely flexible and tough and also light in weight. The forces holding the bow-string in position act at right angles to the motion and energy of the flying shuttle whereby the contact between the shuttle and bowstring center is shockless to a very high degree. The part of the picker strap which is suddenly moved by contact with the flying shuttle after it has traversed the shuttle race is the central portion only, thus requiring only a small partof the total mass of the strap to be instantaneously accelerated, thus minimizing the percussive energy absorbed from the flying shuttle and lost in heat in effecting this result.

The picker may be made of any suitable material such as leather, string, steel, rubber, rubber and cord, rubber and canvas, or any suitable combination according to the conditions of use.

The bow-string or strap of the picker is supported at right angles to the flight of the shuttle by spring tensioned picking stick arms, the flexible leather or other form of bow-string picker in the form illustrated being perforated to receive the shuttle point. The leather adjacent the perforation is the only part of the bow-string to receive percussive shock. Since the leather is relatively soft, flexible, and light in weight, the shock of contact is not so great as would occur with the same difference in velocity between the shuttle and picker if a more solid picker or one of greater mass were employed. The bow-string form of picker operates in tension only and therefore relatively soft leather may be used at the point of contact with the shuttle thereby lending the picker to lightness, softness and flexibility, as compared to a solid picker, resulting in a minimum of wear.

The employment of a soft point of contact together with the flexibility of the strap form of picker provides more time for the rest of the strap to take on the motion of the shuttle, thus reducing the pressure during this time over what it would he were this action more nearly instantaneous. This pressure would be considerably greater were the whole mass of the picker concentrated in the center so as to have to move at substantially the full speed of the shuttle upon contact therewith. Only a relatively small portion of the strap is moved immediately on contact at the speed of the shuttle while the supported ends of the picker strap move relatively little and gradually increase in speed by a smooth, gradual movement so that the kinetic energy of the shuttle may be mechanically transferred to springs with relatively small loss of energy. Comparing the bow-string type picker with a modern power loom picker, employing the usual picking sticks and assuming the shuttle has been thrown on a loom running at 200 picks per minute, it will be seen that on both looms the point of contact is traveling with the speed of the shuttle at the moment the picker and the shuttle are about to separate. But, in the case of standard mechanism, the heavy picker and picking stick are traveling at shuttle speed whereas in the case of the bow-string picker, all parts but the center of the picker strap have come to rest.

In both standard picking mechanism and bowstring mechanism, it may be assumed that the energy required to start the shuttle alone is about equal to that required to start up the picker and picking stick or that the energy required to start the shuttle and picking mechanism in both standard and bow-string looms is about twice that which would be required to start the shuttle alone. In the standard picking mechanism, after the shuttle has been started and has arrived at some intermediate point on the drive stroke, and at about half speed, more energy must be drawn from the power source to complete the full speed of both the shuttle and picker center,- which small amount of energy is subsequently absorbed and lost in heat. v

In the case of a bow-string type picker, during initial acceleration of the shuttle, the picker and ends of the picking sticks travel at substantially the speed of the shuttle for a considerable portion of the drive stroke as in the case with power loom standard pickers. Assuming that the bow-string picker, together with parts of the two-string picker sticks movingly associated with the picker, have the same mass as comparable parts of a standard power loom picker, the power required to accelerate the shuttle, picker, picker stick, and associated moving parts up to about half speed, would be substantially the same in both looms. However, during the remainder of the drive stroke the action of the two forms of picking motion are radically diiferent in their employment of energy. In the standard loom, the source of power must continue to supply energy to increase the speed of the shuttle and picker and picking stock and all of this considerable amount of energy will be absorbed and lost as heat before the next pick, by check or brake means resulting in considerable shock and wear.

. On the other hand, in the bow-string picker mechanism of my invention, 'as illustrated in the different embodiments herein, the energy which has been delivered to the picker, picking stick and associated parts near said stick at about half speed is now beginning to be partially de-. livered back to the shuttle to increase the shuttle speed, thus saving the source of power from delivering as niuch power as it would otherwise have to do. The mechanism incorporating the bow-string drive, the picker, the picking stick, and all moving parts connected thereto in the various forms of my invention, are brought to rest, not through brake and checking means, as in standard drives, butby pressing against the rear point of the flying shuttle. This pressure accelerates the shuttle to full speed by slowing down the picker mechanism, without shock, to zero. Not only do the picking sticks and attached solid parts, while slowing down to rest, give up their energy to the speeding shuttle, but the ends of the picker strap itself together with attached parts impart much of their energy to the shuttle. Thus, at the moment of separation of the shuttle and picker,

all of the kinetic energy of the picking :stick,

picking stick drums, and substantial amounts of the bow-string ends, and associated moving parts, tends to be transmitted to the speeding shuttle. In other words, the initial energy required to rt up the parts of the mechanism which had to be accelerated with the shuttle, when it was started from its position of rest, is substantially returned to the shuttle, except a small portion of that initial energy yet residing as kinetic energy in the central portion of the picker strap, which in amount is roughly proportional to the twang of an archery bowstring.

At the opposite end of the shuttle race in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, a large portion of the total kinetic energy of the arriving shuttle is stored in springs while the shuttle is brought to rest. I have found that at a shuttle speed corresponding to 200 picks per minute this stored energy is in excess of 90% of all the energy required to drive the shuttle at full speed on its return stroke. This means that less than 10% of the total energy required to drive the shuttle has to be contributed from a power source for the return drive.

In standard power looms, the immediate power source may be said to be only one, the prime mover, whereas in my forms of bow-string drive, the immediate sources are two: First, the stored source consisting of spring means in which energy from a single flight of the flying shuttle has been stored, and secondly, contributed energy or energy coming direct, pick by pick, from the prime mover in an amount to compensate for energy lost at each pick through friction, heat and the like. Each pick is thus driven by a combination of stored and contributed energy, the stored energy being practically constant in each pick and constituting most of that required, and the contributed energy being whatever additional energy is needed to effect a satisfactory drive.

The use of storage springs in the bow-string drive for a power loom reduces wear and tear by permitting the mechanism to transform the kinetic energy of the shuttle into potential energy of springs, thus involving little wear and tear on any of the friction braking mechanism. Bringing the shuttle to a dead stop by friction alone obviously involves considerable wear and tea on check straps, binders, fpic'ke'rs and other frictional members, accompanied by considerable heat and. noise.

The bow-string drive is equally applicable to power looms and hand looms although the advantages are somewhat different for each kind of loom since in hand looms, a saving of power is a primary factor while saving of wear is a secondary factor, and in power looms the saving of impact and wear is perhaps a primary factor though permitting an increase in speed whereas saving of power is perhaps a secondary factor since power for power looms is generally relatively inexpensive.

I have found that the proportion of energy left from the shuttle and available for storage at the instant the shuttle arrives at the picker, increases with the shuttle speed since the energy lost by the shuttle due to shuttle friction in traversing the race and that against the reed, remains substantially constant at different speeds. Also the friction of the moving parts of the mechanism remain about the same for all speeds contemplated whereas the energy of the shuttle at full speed builds up as the square of the shuttle velocity.

I have found, for example, that when placing the storage springs under that initial tension which would be proper for operating the loom at a relatively low speed of picks per minute, and then forcing the shuttle, by hand, against the picker and following it home to locked position, upon thereafter releasing the trigger mechanism, the shuttle will traverse its course, strike the opposite taut picker, rebound, and cross a major portion of the race a second time. Then upon increasing the initial tension on the storage spring to that which would be required for a loom speed of about picks per minute, I have found that in such an experiment the shuttle traverses the race about four times before coming to rest. Then when the storage spring tension is increased to that needed to operate the loom at 200 picks per minute, the shuttle traverses the race 12 times before coming to rest. The average loss per pick, in one traverse of the shuttle when the mechanism was adjusted to a speed of 200 picks per minute, thus was practically of the original stored energy, or 8 /3%. The additional power required from the prime mover (when running at 200 picks per minute) or the contributed energy is therefore less than 10% of the total energy required, and the 90% or more which was stored in springs and used in the next pick, is utilized.

Referring now, first, to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, it will be understood that the parts shown in Fig. 3, for instance, are duplicated at the other side of the loom, as indicated in Fig. 1, of course facing in the opposite direction, and that the loom itself, of which only fragments are indicated in the drawings, may be of any well known construction, the figures of drawing illustrating principally the by shuttle operating means at the two sides of the loom.

Reference may be had, for instance, to my prior Patent No. 1,858,482, dated May 17, 1932, or to any conventional loom, for a fuller disclosure of the loom constructions which may employ the improvements of my present invention.

Previously herein I have referred to the analogy between the fly shuttle operating and energy storing mechanism of my invention and a conventional bow and arrow, and in the following description further reference to 'such analogy will be had.

At I, I show what I term picker-cords corresponding to a bow string of the conventional archers bow, the same comprising a pair of cords la and l-b, which are best shown in Fig. 6, said cords being normally stretched taut in relatively spaced parallel relation to each other from the longer arms of bell crank levers 2, which levers are journaled in ball bearings supported on the beater frame F including a frame supporting bracket element 1.

The cords I-a and lb are each secured at their ends to separate grooved portions of a spool-shaped end element l'c for the longer lever arms 2. At their mid-portions the cords jointly support a leather shuttle receiving pocket element l-d which is secured against longitudinal movement relative to the cords by suitably securing the same to the cords by forming a knot on the cords and then projecting the cords through leather links l--e, the pocket element being held open by leather washers l-w encircling the cords and disposed between the links. The point of the shuttle is adapted to be received in the central zone of the pocket element I -d, as indicated at l-a.

In the normalposition of the cords I, as shown by the solid lines, Fig. 3, the cords are held taut in a straight line by the pressure of heavy steel springs S which at one end are adjustably supported on the bar B by straps s extending from the disc spring supports 65 around bar B, the yokes y of the straps s being held in adjustably spaced relation from the outer surface of the bar B, by adjustment screws l, threaded through said yokes and bearing against the bar B.

The free ends of the springs S support links 3, each of which terminates in a hook 3a, which, against the power of its associated spring S, is. hooked over a pin 3b rigidly secured on and extending laterally from the short arm 2 a of the bell crank lever, the longer arm of which is shown at 2. The pin 3-17, in the position of the parts shown by solid lines in Fig. 3, is disposed laterally of the axis of the bell crank lever so that the tension of the spring S pulling upon the hook 3a will, with respectto the bell crank lever arm 2a shown at the left of Fig. 3, tend to rotate it counter-clockwise, and with respect to the similar arm 2 shown to the right of Fig. 3, will tend to rotate it clockwise, thereby pulling the cords taut, as shown.

Reverting to the archers bow analogy, the bow-string being represented by the cords I, the functional character of the archers bow is achieved by the springs S acting through the links 3 and bell crank levers 2. As shown, the pointed end of the nose of the shuttle 4, when the shuttle has traversed the shuttle race and reachesthe far side of the loom, illustrated in Fig. 3, is first received in the leather pocket |-d carried in the mid-portion of the cords I at ls, and then carries the mid or pocket supporting portion of the cords to the fully advanced position, indicated by dotted lines for thefinal shuttle position; also the cord supporting ends l.c of the levers 2 are thereby caused to be rotated about the bell crank arm axes a: to take the dotted line positions indicated at z, where such ends engage and are snubbed to a stop by the leather strap 5, as shown. At this time, the cord I takes the V-shaped deflected form indicated by dotted lines at I". Hereinafter we will refer to this as the cocked position of the shuttle ejecting mechanism, described.

During the movement of'the shuttle 4 from its solid-line position to the cooked dotted line position shown, the tension of the springs S acting through the links 3, levers 2, and lever ends l-c, will yieldingly oppose the movement of the shuttle, which, however, being relatively heavy and traveling at a high rate of speed, will by its momentum overcome the power of the spring until it reaches its ultimate position where it is shown by dotted lines. Prior to reaching this position, it is engaged by the friction shoe 6 which 're-acts by virtue of the pressure of the shoe spring 6a, and the shoe 6 remains in engagement with a lateral surface of the shuttle after the shuttle comes to momentary rest.

The force of the two springs S, opposing the forced rotary movement of the two arms 2, increases during the first part of such rotational movement until the pins 3--b are positioned directly laterally of the lever axes x, and then the pins 3-'b continue their upward and inward lateral movement to the final ultimate position as illustrated at 3b in Fig. 4, whereat the spring pressure communicated to said pins, although strongest, since the pins are then almost directly in line with the lever axes x, will no longer tend to effect a return movement of the shuttle in the opposite direction, and the'relatively light frictional contact of the shoe 6 against the lateral surface of the shuttle will'be sufficient to retain the shuttle in its final momentary position of rest, shown by dotted lines, Fig. 3.

Each of the springs S comprises a plurality of separate spring elements but are herein referred to, collectively, as springs S, and obviously a single spring could be employed. The spring ele-- ment-s of each of the springs S extend between spring supporting discs 66 and 61 to which the springs are secured and by which they are maintained in tensile stress by suitable connections between the springs and the discs, as by the interlocked hooked ends of the springs and the eye element 8 attached to the confronting sides of the opposing discs. 1

The movement of the shuttle 4, carrying with it a pocket l-d into which the nose of the shuttle is projected, to the ultimate position of the pocket, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, increases the tension of the springs S by the resultant pull on the links 3 communicated to the discs 61, although with the pocket l-d in its ultimate cocked dotted line position, the retractile force of the springs is not capable of ejecting the shuttle in view of the dead center position of the pins 3b beyond the axes :c of the lever arms 2, as previously described.

For the purpose of forcibly ejecting the shuttle 4 from its said cocked position, as illustrated by its dotted line position in Fig. 3, I provide, in combination with the bar B a lever l 0, journaled at Ill-d on the frame F, and having a long arm Ill-a carrying at its end the roller Ill-b, and a short hook-like arm IU-C; I also provide a link 9 for communicating motion between the bar B and the short arm Ill-c of the lever l0.

These instrumentalities, together with the springs S and associated parts previously described, are, in the embodiment illustrated, in turn operated under the control of a double lever l2, duplicated at the opposite side of the loom, as shown in Fig. 1. This double lever is for the purpose of reciprocating the bar B bodily back and forth in a direction parallel with the shuttle race, for the purpose of increasing and diminishing the tension on spring S, and for starting the levers 2, and dragging the shuttle from its binder 6, at a predetermined instant, as will be described. The double levers l2 consist of two divergent arms joined together at l2a at their. lower ends, as shown in Fig. 2, said double lever adapted to swingingly reciprocate on journal pins l2 on the frame element F2.

A wire l3 leads from the lower ends of each of said double levers 12 to an arm [4 pivoted at M, the connection between the wires l3 and the arm l4 being effected through an element l5 whose movement, together with movement of the arm [4, is controlled by a timing driving element l6 which is driven by a power shaft [1, which may be maintained in continuous rotation either through gears driven by a motor or turned by hand or foot power in any suitable way, which will be readily understood.

The efiect of the driving mechanism consisting of the parts I4, 15 and I6 is to longitudinally reciprocate the tension wires 13, thereby swinging the double levers l2 at each side of the loom analogously to the ordinary swinging of picker staffs, and thereby transmitting reciprocatory movement through pin extensions l8 of the double lever arms 12 to the bar B, which in turn is reciprocated to longitudinally reciprocate the duplicated strap links 9, the ends 9 of which periodically engage and disengage the hooked ends Ill-c of the levers Ill to rotatively swing the levers 10, as will now be described. Movements thus communicated to the bars B,

alike, at each side of the loom periodically increase the tension of the sprin s S.

The driving mechanism previously mentioned may be of any well-known form, but in the embodiment illustrated involves the driving element l6 which is rigidly secured on the rotatable shaft I! and comprises a plate with a cam groove IS on its face side, the groove being continuous and having its different portions disposed at different distances from the axis of rotation of the shaft H. a portion of the frame of the mechanism and carries a pin l5 which is provided with a bored portion I5, the arm 14 being projected through the bore of the pin-head 15, which is therefore adjustable longitudinally of the arm M. The pin 15 is preferably, how-ever, initially secured to the arm l4 at its correct position. The pin I5 is projected within the cam groove lb of the cam element [6. Rotation of the cam element on its eccentrically disposed driveshaft I! causes the pin l5 to be reciprocated laterally within the continuous groove [5' and the wire l3 being secured to the head 15' of the pin causes the wire likewise to be reciprocated, as previously described.

It is likewise understood that the two wires [3 extending in opposite directions to the lower ends of the double levers 12, at opposite sides of the loom, so communicate motion from the pin l5 that alternate like operation of the double arm levers I2 is sequentially efiected.

The apparatus described, at each side of the loom, is thus alternatively operated in the same manner to alternatively discharge and/or receive the shutte, as described, at either side of the loom.

Figs. 3 and 4 show two alternative rotative positions of the lever [0; Fig. 4 showing the lever in the position assumed when the shuttle is in cooked resting position, and Fig. 3 showing a The arm I4 is pivoted at M on ii i) position taken by thelever before the shuttle 4 has entered the pocket I-"d. The end of the snubbing straps 5 may be adjusted by a pin 5-a in accordance with the stretch during use. Lever H1 is normally brought to rest, after its roller l0-b is struck by lever 2, by its short end l0c coming into contact with strap link 9. However, any suitable stop arrangement may be used.

' The arrangement at each side of the shuttle race is duplicated with respect to the levers 2 and H], the links 9, and other apparatus described.

The operation of the loom shuttle mechanism previously described, will now be readily understood. With the other well-known parts of the loom operating inthe usual manner it is necessary for the shuttle 4, which is similarly pointed at its two ends, to be, by th instrumentalities described, forced from one side ofthe loom to the other, where it entersa pocket ld-Fig. 3, and Fig. 6, and carries the pocket ld with it to the dotted'line position shown in Fig. 3.

This causes the cords I to be deflected and to violently pull the lever arms 2 relatively inwardly until their ends will all reach the dotted line position a, Fig. l, where said arms are brought to rest by engagement with the stop strap 5. During movement of the arms 2, they will strike the roller l0-b of the lever l0 and rotate it to the position shown in Fig. 4. r

It will be noted that the springs S are substantially fully tensioned with the partsin the position shown in Fig. 4 before the lever H3 is pulled so that the shuttle will receive the full impulse of the springs. With the springs S tensioned to a maximum degree the link straps Elv impinge on ends l0-c to start the levers 2, as hereinafter described.

When the driving mechanism previously described causes the divided levers 12 to be swung in the opposite direction, this will cause the bar B to move in such a direction as to cause the straps 9 to engage by their ends 9" the hooklike ends ll3-c of the lever in, thereby rotating the arms Nla in such a direction as to.

cause their ends 10-?) to engage the lever arms 2 and move them from the position shown in til) Fig. 4 toward the position shown in Fig. 3. At the same time that the bar B is thus moved it will, by pulling on the straps attached to the lower ends of the springs S, cause an increase in the tensile pull of said spring communicated through the link 3 to the pin 3-4:: carried on the short arm 2-a of the lever 2.

After the shuttle ejecting movement of the lever arms 2, thus initiated, has progressed a certain' amount, the pins 3b will be moved from their oil-side dead center position and the increased tensile power of the springs S will then very strongly cause the arms 2 to continue their movement from their positions, as indicated in Fig. 4 to their positions indicated in Fig. 3, to very violently discharge the shuttle race to the other side of the loom, whereupon the operation tion prior to the shuttle deflecting them to their ultimate positions I", shown by dotted lines.

The longer lever arm 2 in moving to the ultimate shuttle cocking position, as indicated by 2, Fig. 3, also by engagement with the roller lllb, at the end of the arm Ill-a, moves it to its ultimate position as indicated in Fig. 4.

Referring now to Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive, I have shown a modification of my invention generally similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, but wherein difierent means are employed for storing shuttle energy. The shuttle race is indicated at and the shuttle box generally at 5| with the shuttle in dotted lines shown in the "home or locked position. The shuttle boxes are mounted on the beater frame in any suitable manner and although only the right hand portion of the frame is shown, it is understood that the opposite hand portion is similarly constructed. An upwardly extending member 52 of the beater frame rotatably supports an upper drum 53 and a lower drum 54, each provided with a rigidly supported picker arm indicated at 55 and 56 respectively. The drums may be supported in any suitable manner but I preferably provide ball bearings, as shown, to reduce friction to a minimum.

The outer ends of the picker arms 55 and 56 have a bow string picker or picker strap 51 secured thereto by screws or the like and to permit movement of the picker strap 51 axially of the shuttle box, I provide a generally rectangular perforation at 58 through the bottom of the shuttle box, the perforation preferably being beveled at its outer end as indicated at 59; The drums 53 and 54 are inter-connected by a steel band 60 affixed to each of the drums whereby movement of one drum will effect concurrent movement of the other drum. After the loom is operating, the shuttle as indicated in dotted lines at 6| will be propelled from the home position in-the left hand shuttle box (not shown) and after traversing the shuttle race will contact the central portion of the strap 51 which is preferably formed of relatively soft flexible leather and provided with an opening 63, as best illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, to engage the nose of the shuttle. The shuttle will then carry the strap 51 -to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 9 and at the same time effect rotation of arms .55 and 56 to the dotted line positions illustrated. The shuttle may be locked in the dotted line or home position illustrated by any suitable means well known in the art until actuated in a manner to be described for the return traverse across the shuttle race.

The lower drum 54 is provided with a pin 64 which engages a strap 65, the strap at its lower end being secured to a ring 66 to which are also secured the ends of tension springs 61 and 68. The springs 61 and 68 will be stretched to the dotted line position illustrated at 61' and 88' when the shuttle goes to the home position and as the drums are rotated to the dotted position and will absorb and store a major portion of the kinetic energy of the shuttle during the time the shuttle is brought to rest by pressure against a picker strap. Relatively little additional energy other than that stored in springs 61 and 68 is required to effect the reverse traverse of the shuttle through the shuttle race, and this power may be suppled in any suitable manner from the prime mover, as for example, securing each end of wire I3 illustrated in Fig. 1 to a ring 66 whereby reciprocating movement of the wire I3,

Ill

in'a manner previously explained, will effect a downward pull on the ring 66 in timed relation to the movement of the heddles, the beater mechanism and other operating parts of the loom. The additonal energy received through the wire l3 provides suflicient power in conjunction with the tension of springs 61 and 68 to throw the shuttle in reverse direction through the race at a desired shuttle speed. Any suitable binder or locking means may be employed for temporarily lockingv the shuttle in home position although I preferably employ means limiting clock-wise movement of the drum 54 and the arm 56, such as a leather strap '10 adapted to check movement of arm 56 at a pre-determined point but since the kinetic energy in the shuttle has been substantially entirely absorbed by the storage springs 61 and 68 at this point relatively little impact or shock is caused by arm 56 encountering the check strap 10.

The shuttle may be released by any suitable means, such as providing a jerk strap 'll secured to drum 54 and adapted to trip a trigger wire or the like to release the binder or locking means maintaining the shuttle in the shuttle box in timed relation to movement of the heddles, beater mechanism, and the like.

Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, I have shown at 15 a segmental form shoe replacing drums 53 and 54 and mounted in a similar manner on ball bearings. The picker arm indicated at 16 is detachably secured to the shoe 15 whereby it may be replaced ifrequired for any reason and the upper and lower shoes are inter-connected by a steel strap or band 11 insuringthat they will be concurrently moved. The lower shoe may transmit energy to springs 67 and, 68 as described in connection with Fig. 9 through means such as pin 64 on the lower shoe and the strap 65 connects the pin to the springs 61 and 68 through ring 66. Shoe 15 is similar to drum 53 but with unnecessary parts cut away for lightness, thereby reducing the stress on straps, links and the like through reduction of the mass and wind fanning characteristics of the drums and picking sticks to a minimum.

Referring now to Figs. 15 and 16, I have illustrated a further modification of my invention generally similar to that described in connection with Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive, but wherein a different means is employed for supplementing the energy of the storage spring in driving the shuttle. The shuttle race way is generally indicated at 50 and a shuttle box at 5|, the drums 53 and 54 supporting picker strap 51 through picker arms 55 and 56 as previously described. The drums are rotatably mounted on a portion of the beater frame indicated at 52 by ball-bearings and inter-connected by strap 60. Mounted for oscillatory movement on a lower part of the beater frame is a dog lever having a shoe portion 8| to which is secured a steel band 82, pivotally connected to the lower end of a connecting rod 83. The upper end of the connecting rod 83 is pivotally connected to the lower drum 54 whereby rotary movement of the drum 54 will communicate rocking movement to the dog lever- 80 and conversely rocking movement of the dog lever 80 will communicate movement to drums 53 and 54. It will be understood that the opposite hand or left hand portion of the mechanism comprises mechanism similar to that illustrated and the left hand dog lever (not shown) is connected to the right hand dog lever 80 by a tension or storage spring 84. 'The dog lever-89 is jou'rnaled on the lower part of the; beater frame as indicated. at 85, as is also a movement of the cam 9| will effect oscillatingmovement of the cam lever 89 in a generally vertically plane. The cam lever 89 is connected to dog lever 89 by a spring 92 and is connected to connection lever 88 by a link 93, preferably by universal joints as indicated at 94 and 95.

A jerk lever 96 having a yoke form end portion 91 receiving a pin 98 preferably coaxial with the axis of rotation of lever 89 is pivotally supported as indicated at 9611 on the connection lever 86. The pin 98 is slightly less in diameter than the distance between the yoke arms whereby the jerk lever 95. will be permitted a slight play. Secured to one of the yoke arms is a trigger wire I98 which is carried upwardly over a pulley 99 and then extended generally horizontally to a shuttle locking element I99. The shuttle locking element is generally of U-form with one arm journaled as indicated at I9I in a ball bearing and the other arm being adapted to have limited movement and carrying a rotatable bearing element I92. The bearing element I92 is adapted to abut bumper strips indicated at I93 and I99 of leather or the like to limit the movement in each direction and a tension spring I95 secured to the locking element I99 and a portion of the shuttle box or heater frame tends,

to rotate the locking element I99 in a clockreleased before actual motion of shuttle takes place.

The tensionspring I95 secured to the locking element I99 keeps the forkend 91 of the jerk lever in its uppermost position; that is with the lower tine of the fork constantly against the pin 98, except when the jerk moves it down.

Thus the binder III] is always in position to receive and hold the shuttle fast except at the. instant of ejection.

When points m, n ando (Fig; 17) arein line, the pressure of the wedged shuttle. will be resistedjbut when point m iszmovedto-the left as'viewed; to clear shoulder 11. of the abutment Hi, the shuttle will be unlocked.-

The operation of the mechanism described in connection with Figs. 15 and 16 will now be explained. Assuming the shuttle to beprojected from the left hand shuttle box and towardv the right hand: shuttle box shown and a desired speed such as corresponding to 290 picks per minute, the point of the shuttle will first engage the perforationin the flexible leather or.v the like picker-strap 51': and immediately tend to move the central portion of. the picker strap at shuttle speed. Due to the fact that the strap is relatively soft and flexible, together with the fact that only the central part of the strap of relatively lightvmass is percussivelymoved at shuttle speed, the total shock, of impact is relatively. small and the ends of the picker arms 55v and 5-5;,tend to move toward each other and generally at right angles to the direction of shuttle flight. The tension on storage spring 84 connecting the dog levers has been adjusted to a predetermined picker speedand as the picker arms and wise direction as viewed in Fig. 16. As best illustrated in Fig. 17 the binder II9 at theback of the shuttle box is pivoted at I-I9-a and is provided with an abutment III engageable with bearing element I92. The binder H9 is preferably provided with leather facing as indicated at II9b. Suitable spring means (not shown) are provided for holding binder I I9 against bearing element I92. to give precisionof action and to prevent swinging of. the, binder when. they heater is in action.. When bearingelement I92 is against bumper strip-I99- as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 16 the binder is in its closest position to the shuttle box front I I2 and justclose enough to act as a binderwhen the shuttle arrives home.

The provision of the hinge bearing atIIJI andthe lockbearing at I92 and having bumper strips I93 and I99 contact the lock bearing to limit its movement to the small amount required and also to draw thebinder II9 back to locked position, provides a rugged mechanism and an easy return of the parts of the system to locked position with a minimum amount of friction or effort. A jerk strap I96 is secured at one end to the jerk lever 99 and at its opposite end to drum 59.

At the instant the jerk strap is jerked by the upward movement of cam lever 89 communicating its motion to connection lever 88 by rotating 56 in a counterclockwise direction, it presses on the shuttle to eject it, meanwhile the fork endv of the floating lever 98, through its connections moves downward opening the lock which holdsof. the binder H9 on the. shuttle, shall be.

drums are rotated by the shuttle, as the picker strap is carried rearwardly, the drum 54 through the connecting rod 83 will rock the doglever 89 toward the dotted line position andthe kinetic energy of the shuttle will be largely transformed and stored as potential energy in the. storage spring 84.

The binder side of the shuttle box is in looking. position as the shuttle enters the box and goes home wedging, or looking itself by impact; The action of the shuttle is as follows: The shuttle flies across the race, trailing the weft. Meantime the beater approaches beat up or forward position. The beat now-- comes againstuthe fell of the cloth while the shuttle lies inert in itsbox locked tight. The. beater then recedes as the warp threads are opening, after crossing each other for forming the next shed. When the heater: is about half way .back, the shed is about full open again ready to receive the shuttle. During thistime, the shuttle lieslocked in its box. To operate prop-. erly, it should enter theshedwhen the beater is about half way back. The shuttle must therefore be released from its look at the precise moment in which the impulse occurs which ejects the shuttle from the box. By attaching the unlocking leader wire to one end. of a floating lever 99, and the jerk strapto the other end. of thesame lever, the act of unlocking and jerking occurs at one and the same instant.

The floating lever 96 is preferably so positioned and pivoted with respect to the connecting lever 88 that one end thereof is in line with the axis of the lever 85, thus leaving no motion of translation. while the connecting lever 89 and the jerkstrap end of the floating takes-place it is with sufficientrforce. to. start.

the shuttle with timed precision. Simultaneously, force is transmitted to the other end of the locking lever 96, transmitting movement through the wire I08 to unlock the binder I I but the movement at the fork end of the lever 06 is limited by the fork 91 and pin 98, thus effecting the unlocking with a minimum degree of force exerted on the wire I08 and the spring I05.

. The movement of the dog lever 80 to the dotted line position also increases the tension of the contribution spring 92, connecting the dog lever and the cam lever 89 and the cam 9| which is being rotated in timed relation to other parts of the loom mechanism and is adaped at a pre-determined point to lift the cam lever 89 about the axis 88 and to further increase the tension of the spring 92 and as the cam 9| rides beyond its point of maximum lift, the arm 89 will be pulled down lowering the jerk lever to the position illustrated in Fig. 15. Further the wire I08 has been kept taut at all times due to the tension of the spring I whereby the lower leg of the fork 9! is kept in contact with the pin 98 and when the jerk comes, as above described, the wire I08 is 'pulled downwardly until the-upper leg of the fork 91 engages the hinge pin 98. The shuttle is then projected in a reverse direction under the combined influence of springs 84 and 92. It will be seen that the spring 92 is a loading device absorbing additional energy at each pick from the prime mover as required to supplement the energy of the storage spring 84 or roughly 10% of the total energy required to effect traverse flight of the shuttle at a speed corresponding to 200 picks per minute. After the picker and the shuttle, together with the moving parts, have been accelerated to a certain point, the energy stored in springs 84 and 92 operates to push against the rear portion of the flying shuttle and the picker stick, picker and the linkage connecting these parts with the power source, are brought to a stop by pressing against the end of the shuttle rather than against brake straps, checks and the like.

Figs. 18 to 23inclusive are figures illustrating another type of picker and band adapted to be used with the bow-string shuttle drive of my invention. The picker in these forms is preferably made of light form steel or other metal and has a generally clam shell shape. In Fig. 22, the picker I I5 is shown having a steel spring clip I I 8 clamped about the receiving end of the picker and attached thereto by means of straps or bands II'I. This clip, in Fig. 23, takes the form of wire coil springs which are seated in corrugations I I8 formed in the steel cone of the picker. The coil may be inserted in separate apertures II9 provided in the generally triangular ears I20 provided on either side of the picker II5, whereas the clip I IS, in the form shown in Fig. 22, is projected through a slot I2I in each of the ears I20 of the picker.

It is to be noted that the cone tip is preferably rounded, as at I2I, in each of these forms, and that the slots in the sides of the cone I22 are substantialy as wide as the steel ribbon I23 which passes therethrough. It is to be noted that the picker is rounded to relieve the stress of impact and that when contact is made, the steel clips, of whatever form may be used, will assist in resisting the impact of the nose of the shuttle slightly before full contact takes place. The slight pressure of the thus caused sliding contact between the shuttle hardened steel tip sides and inside surfaces accelerates the picker to a certain degree which is susceptible of being controlledbefore full. nose contact takes place thus relieving shock. By these methods and others which might appear to those conversant in the art, a balanced degree of preliminary friction may be produced between the shuttle nose and the picker clip before full contact takes place. Being controllable, the amount of resistance thus produced may be made just sufficient to avoid any serious shock of full contact. It is to be noted that the bow-string I23, which is utilized in connection with this picker, is a steel ribbon and that, as the shuttle closes in on the picker in its full stroke, the ribbon contacts the cheek of the shuttle over a wider area.

The steel picker and ribbon shown in these figures are particularly advantageous when the flight of the shuttle attains a speedof 300 or more times a minute through the shuttle race. They are preferably of less weight than the leather strap structures and are utilized instead of the strap 5! shown in Figs. 9 and 15.

It will be noted that in all the forms of my invention illustrated and described herein, storage means have been provided whereby after the shuttle has been started, the initial energy is returned to the shuttle to drive the shuttle with very little energy exerted by the shuttle throwing mechanism in order to traverse the shuttle race at the required speeds. In all of the forms further, the shuttle will be noted to contact a minimum of shock after it has traversed the shuttle race.

While I have shown my invention as embodied in certain specific forms, my invention is not limited thereto. Numerous and extensive changes and modifications may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A shuttle mechanism for looms comprising in combination with a shuttle race and a flying shuttle adapted to traverse said race in alternate directions from one end of the race to the other, picker mechanism ateach end of the shuttle race each comprising shuttle engaging means, and spring means therefor, said spring means so related to said engaging means as to oppose the movement of said shuttle engaging means when it is engaged by an approaching shuttle and caused to be moved thereby, and also so as to eifect acceleration of the movement of said shuttle engaging means in the shuttle discharging direction, such shuttle engaging means so disposed as to be movable by a received shuttle a substantial distance to its limit position at the side of the loom against pressure of said spring means opposed to such movement to translate the kinetic energy of the received flying shuttle into potential energy caused to be stored in said spring means, means operable by the final portion 'of said movement of said shuttle to. momentarily at least partially disable the effect of said spring upon said engaging means otherwise tending to effect a return movement of the shuttle, and shuttle flight timing means alternately effective at each side of the loom for disabling the then disabled spring disabling means, whereby power alternatively so stored in each said spring means is subsequently communicated to the shuttle in the direction of its return flight, said shuttle engaging means comprising a light flex- 'ible "bow-string element normally extending across the flight of said shuttle near an end of said race with a medial portion of said element disposed in the line of shuttle flight and adapted to be engaged by the flying shuttle.

2. In a shuttle mechanism for looms comprising in combination with a shuttle race and a shuttle adapted to traverse said race in alternate directions from one end of the race to the other, picker mechanism at each end of the shuttle race each comprising shuttle engaging means, movable from a position efiecting the flight of the shuttle towards the opposite end of the shuttle race, to a locked position of the shuttle in the shuttle box, by the kinetic energy of the shuttle, means for temporarily storing a portion of the kinetic energy transmitted from the flying shuttle, means for utilizing said stored energy for efiecting flight of the shuttle in a reverse direction, and means for supplementing said stored energy from a contributing power source to effect shuttle flight, said shuttle engaging means comprising a light flexible bow-string element normally extending across the flight of said shuttle near an end of said race with a medial portion of said element disposed in the line of shuttle flight and adapted to be engaged by the flying shuttle.

3. In a shuttle mechanism for looms comprising in combination with a shuttle race and a flying shuttle adapted to traverse said race in alternate directions from one end of the race to the other, picker mechanism on each end of the shuttle race, each comprising a flexible element adapted to extend transversely of the shuttle path and engageable by the shuttle, said flexible element comprising a light flexible normally tensed bow-string element normally extending at right angles across the flight of said shuttle near an end of said race with a medial portion of said element disposed in the line of shuttle flight, spring means tending to maintain said flexible element in straight line form and .adapted to temporarily store kinetic energy transmitted to the flexible element by the flying shuttle, means for locking the shuttle in position at the termination of its flight in a given direction, supplemen tal means adapted to cooperate with the storage spring means in effecting flight of the shuttle from the locked position, and means for rendering the locking means inoperable in timed relation to the other parts of the shuttle mechanism.

4. A shuttle mechanism for looms comprising a shuttle race, a shuttle adapted to traverse said race in alternate directions, shuttle receiving and ejecting means at each end of said race including a pair of pivoted elements, a flexible member carried by said elements, a shuttle receiving means intermediate the ends of said flexible member, and spring means coupled to said pivoted elements so that said shuttle receiving and ejecting means is momentarily brought to rest at the end of each movement of said shuttle, and means cooperating with said spring means for forcibly ejecting said shuttle from its position of rest at the end of each rest period.

5. A shuttle mechanism for looms comprising a shuttle race, a shuttle, means for moving said shuttle at high speed along said race including a-.

pair of pivoted arms, a picker cord between the ends of said arms, means for positioning said arms to apply tension on said cord, a shuttle end receiving means carried by and disposed. inter mediate the ends of said cord for receiving and ejecting said shuttle, said shuttle being yieldingits position of rest, and cam actuated means to' 1y received and forcibly ejected by said tension applying means, and means to momentarily stop said shuttle prior to its ejection from said receiving means.

6. In a shuttle mechanism for looms having a shuttle race and a shuttle adapted to traverse the race in alternate directions, the combination of a picker strap means to support said picker strap at right angles to the direction of flight of the shuttle, said supporting means comprising a pair of pivoted crank arms and spring means coupled to said arms to maintain said strap under tension, said strap and supporting means cooperating to yieldingly oppose movement of the shuttle in which releasable lock means cooperate with the shuttle stopping means to retain the shuttle in release said lock means in predeterminedtimed relation.

' 9. In a shuttle mechanism for looms having a shuttle race and a shuttle adapted to traverse the race in alternate directions, shuttle receiving and ejecting means at each side of said race including a pair of pivoted elements, a metallic band carried by said elements, a shuttle receiving metallic cone shaped picker disposed intermediate the ends of said metallic band,said shuttle'receiving meansbeing so formed as to offer a slight resistance to the nose of said shuttle as contactv occurs, and spring means coupled to said pivoted elements and means co-operating therewith for forcibly ejecting said shuttle from said shuttle receiving means at the end of a rest period therein.;

10. In a shuttle mechanism for looms havinga shuttle race and a shuttle adapted to traverse the race in alternate directions, shuttle receiving and ejecting means at each side of said race includ ing a pair of pivoted elements, a metallic band carried by said elements having outwardly flaring ears, a shuttle receiving cone shaped metallic picker disposed intermediate the ends of said metallic band, said earsflrst receiving the metallic band,the band being then disposed through the cone and externally of a rounded tip thereof, said shuttle receiving means being so formed as to offer a slight resistance. to the nose of said shuttle as contact occurs, and spring means cou-' pled to said pivoted elements and means co-operating therewith for forcibly ejecting said shuttle from said shuttle receiving means at the end of a rest period therein.

. 11 .In shuttle operating means for looms, the combination with the shuttle and shuttle race, of shuttle receiving and throwing means at an end portion of said race comprising a light flexible .bow-string element normally extending across the line of flight of said shuttle near an end of said race, with the medial portion of said element being disposed in the line of shuttle flight,

yielding resilient spring means attached to the opposite ends of said element, another shuttle throwing and receiving means disposed at the opposite end portion of the race for throwing the shuttle along the race to cause it to contact the medial portion of said element and to forcibly Y cause said medial portion to move with the nose of. the shuttle against the power oi said spring means whereby said shuttleis gradually deceleratd and the kinetic energy of the flying shuttle transformed into potential energy stored .in saidspr'ing means, means to momentarily arrest the shuttle in its most fully advanced position on the'race end, and periodically operable timing means associated with the loom for disabling said arresting means, whereby said spring means then delivers 'to the shuttle through said element, as kinetic energy, the energy previously stored in said spring means during deceleration of said shuttle, to throw the shuttlealong the race in the opposite direction,

12. In shuttle operating means for looms, the combination with'the. shuttle and shuttle race, of shuttle receiving and throwing means at an endportion of said race, comprising a light flexible bow-string element normally stretched across the line of flight of said shuttle near one end of said race, means. normally tensioning. said element with the normal'jdirection of extent of said tensedelement being. substantially at right angles to said line of shuttle flight," and the medial portion, of said element being disposed in said line of flight, said tensioning means at: tached to the opposite ends of said element and comprising yieldable resilient spring means, a second shuttle throwing and. receiving means disposed at the op-posite'end. portion of the race iorithrow'ing the shuttle along the race to cause it to contact the medial portion of said tensed element and to forcibly cause said medial portion. to move with, the nose of the shuttle against thepower of said spring means to a spring means tensioning position whereby said shuttle is graduallydecelerated and the, kinetic energy of: the. flying shuttle is transformed intov potential. en-

ergy stored in said spring. means, meansito momentarily arrest the shuttle. in, its most fully advanced position on the race end, and periodically operable timing means associated with the;

loomior disabling said arresting means, whereby said spring means then delivers to they shuttle. through said element, as. kinetic energy, the en-v ergypreviously stored in said spring means. during deceleration of. said shuttle, to throw, the shuttle along the race in the opposite. direction.

13. In shuttle operating means for, looms, the.

combination with the shuttle. andshuttlerace, of, shuttle receiving and throwing means. at an end portion of said race comprising a lightflexible boW-string" elementnormally extending a'cro'ssthe line of flight of, said shuttle near an end of said race, withthe medial portion of said.

element being disposed in the line of shuttle flight, yielding resilient spring means attached.

to the opposite ends of. said element, another shuttle throwing and receiving means disposed at the opposite end portion of theraceforthrow-v ing the, shuttle along the race to cause it to contactthe medialportion ofsaid element and to 'forcibly cause saidlmedial portion to move with the nose of the shuttle against the power of said spring means whereby said shuttle is gradually decelerated andthe kinetic energy of the, flying shuttle is transformed into potential energy stored in said spring means, means to momentarily arrestthe shuttle in its most fully p, advanced position on the race end, and periodily p b e m na ans a s i te i he loom for disabling said arresting means, whereby said spring means then delivers to the shuttle through said eiemellt s kin c ene g e. energy previously stored in saidspring means during deceleration of said shuttle to throw the shuttle along the race in the opposite direction, and means for also substantially simultaneously communicating to said shuttle through said element a minor additional increment of force sufficient to compensate for energy dissipated during the entir period of flight towards and to said fully advanced shuttle position, whereby the-return flight of said shuttle may be efl'ectedat a speed corresponding to the initially recited flight thereof. 1 4. In fly shuttle looms, the combination with a shuttle, a shuttle race and shuttle throwing mechanism disposed at each end of said race, said mechanism comprising a light flexible bowstring elementdisposed transversely of the race with its mid-portion in the line of flight of the, on-coming shuttle, spring means tending to tense said element to straight line form, said element being bent into loop form by the effect of a flying. shuttle engaging the mid-portion of the tensed element against, the restraining power of said spring means, and av major portion of the energy of the flying shuttle being thereby stored in said spring means by consequent distortion thereof, means for momentarily arresting the effect of retractive effort oi said spring means, upon said shuttle, and periodically, operable timed. means operative to disable said arresting means and to supply a suflicient increment of added force to compensate, for friction losses of energy. during the above recited on-coming flight of the shuttle and stopping thereof, to eflectv a return throw of the shuttle, at substantially. thesame rate of speed as th ron-coming said flight thereof. 15. In a shuttle mechanism. for looms having a shuttle race and; a. shuttle adapted to traverse the race in alternate directions, the combination at each end of therace of a picker strap, means to support said picker strap at right angles. to

a the direction of flight of theshuttle, said. supporting means comprising a pair, of pivoted-crankarms, the arms of th pair being disposedjonopposite lateral sides of the race, and spring means coupled'to said armsto maintain saidstrap under tension with the medial portion of said strap disposed in the line of flight of said shuttle and,

engageable by said shuttle, saidstrap andsupporting means cooperating toyieldingly oppose movement of the shuttle inshuttle receiving. di-

rection and-to accelerate movement of the shuttle' in shuttle discharging direction, means formomentarily stopping the shuttle atitheend of its, flight, and means cooperating withisaid spring means to initiate the return flight ,of'the shuttle, said cooperating means movable to supply an.

incrementof force additive to the force of-the spring to compensate for frictionlosses of energy.

during the initial flight of the shuttle to ensure initiation of the return flightat' aspeedsub stantially equal t th'e initial lSpeBd otthe shuttle at the start of 'itssaid initial flight.

16. Th mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 15, characterized by said. crank= arms.

race, and said arms ,With the strap ends being 1 oppositely rotatable. ,in relatively oppositev directions by movement communicated thereto by the effect of the flying shuttle engaging and forcibly moving the medial portion of said strap to an ultimate position disposed generally between the arm pivots.

17. The mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 15, characterized by said crank arms being pivoted to rotate with the ends of said strap disposed in the plane of the flying shuttle, said arms normally extending from their pivots forwardly in the general direction of the on-coming shuttle and towards the opposite end of the shuttle race, and said arms with the strap ends being oppositely rotatable in relatively opposite directions by movement communicated thereto by'the effect of 15 the flying shuttle engaging and forcibly moving the medial portion of said strap to an ultimate position disposed generally between and rearwardly beyond the arm pivots, whereby the resistance of movement efiected by said mechanism upon the on-coming shuttle is gradually increased from an initial minimum at the moment of contact of said shuttle and said strap to a maximum substantially when the strap supporting ends of said arms are directed inwardly toward each other and subsequently reduced to a second minimum to the ultimate end flight position of the received end of said shuttle.

DAVID C. CHURCHILL. 

